Summary: The Cores are in full control of Britain and the world has fallen into disarray. A fragment of hope remains as not only a battle for survival but also of jealousy and love breaks out. They stand on opposite sides, drawn to each other by something more powerful than they could ever have imagined. Some things cannot be destroyed.

Disclaimers: Everything you recognise belongs to the amazing J.K Rowling, and Warner Bros.

Pairing: Bellatrix/Hermione, Hermione/Andromeda and Hermione/Narcissa established. There may or may not be a few surprises along the way.

Rating: T in the beginning but will definitely change to M in future.

Timeline note: A few weeks have gone by between the end of "Serpent Spell" and the start of "Nemesis."

Author's note: This story is a sequel to "Serpent Spell." You have to read that first for this story to make sense.
Well, here we go. The much awaited sequel to "Serpent Spell" has arrived. I have plenty of ideas lined up for this story in future weeks and months and hope that I can achieve what I managed with the other instalment of this story. This is the first time I have ever written a sequel, but then again "Serpent Spell" was something that was almost unreal to me. I am eagerly looking forward to your reviews (please, let me know what you think!) and wonderful comments, as per usual.

Chapter 1

"Rise"

There was something definitive about war. It had a beginning and one day it would know an end. Times had changed and no one knew when the end would come. Many had died since the rise of the Three Cores and even more had simply vanished. Those who lived in this new world spoke of the horrors of Azkaban prison where only very few survived their imprisonment. Most of the Aurors that had been locked up after the fall of the Ministry were dead, their bodies buried in unmarked graved scattered around the country, their families left unable to say goodbye. Dementors patrolled the corridors in the prison now and form beyond their hoods they sucked out whatever little bit of hope a person had left. Before the war Azkaban had been a soulless place. Now it was a place that knew no hope, no redemption. The waves crashed against the island, splashing high up against the prison walls as a strong storm wind howled around the tower. Those who arrived here knew they would die here.

Albert McGuinnes, the Minister of Magic, spoke to the nation once a week, reminding them to be obedient. As the weeks went on, his eyes lost their shine and his voice became monotone and dull, as if someone or something was draining his energy. His hair started to thin and the lines across his face made him look old beyond his years. Whenever he appeared in public he was always flanked by at least one of his Inquisitors. Bellatrix, Narcissa and Hermione had the world tightly in their grip and there was no sign of them ever letting go.

The City of London had been taken weeks ago and its skyline had been forever changed. The world watched as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament burned down to the ground. No one dared to question the sheer strength possessed by the Three Cores. The night the flames died was the same night that London was divided into four Quarters; North, East, South and West. Each Quarter was placed under the supervision of one Keeper. Within the quarters a large group of Scouts maintained control by supervising the Quarter's inhabitants and deporting all of those who did not follow the clear rules set out.

A new building had been erected on the banks of the river Thames where the Houses of Parliament had once stood. It was tall and had been built out of the toughest black bricks the world had ever produced. It was almost the size of Saint Pauls Cathedral, which was located halfway across the city, with an immense glass dome covering a large part of its roof. A paved road alongside the river was lined with tall oak trees and led up to the rose wood front doors. Inside it was decorated with dark wood, black and burgundy red furniture and torches and candles were the only sources of light. The floors were covered with black marble and the most beautiful pieces of art adorned the walls, most of which depicted scenes from Greek and Roman mythology telling tales of battles between good and evil.

Known as Robur Castle, it had become their new Headquarters, with the large dining room with its glass ceiling functioning as a meeting point. Night after night, dark clad warriors, most of them covered in battle scars, would bring in their reports. Maps lay scattered around the table as city strong holds were being conquered one by one. Every city that was taken changed the same way London changed. Landmarks were destroyed before the city was divided into Quarters. It looked like a military operation and throughout the weeks a large resistance had developed across the country by those who wished to overthrow the new regime. Many were unsuccessful and saw their fight end between the walls of Azkaban prison.

The Muggles had begun to notice the strange things that were happening and many had looked on, aghast, from the banks of the Thames as Robur Castle had appeared overnight. They feared the hours of the night when dark shadows lurked in the streets and their neighbours vanished, leaving their front doors wide open in their wake as their terrified screams died out in the night. They too had noticed the increased presence of dark clad figures in the streets and although the Keepers and their Scouts did not interfere much with the Muggle way of their life, their presence was surely felt. Muggle schools were closed and many people tried to leave the cities and villages. The airports and train stations had never seen such desperate scenes of people trying to abandon everything. It was as if the apocalypse itself had been unleashed upon them.

Far north, in the Highlands of Scotland, Hogwarts Castle lay on top of the cliffs overlooking the Lake. About a hundred students had started their new curriculum and followed the classes as stipulated by their new Headmaster. Severus Snape had been reinstated in the position after the fall of Voldemort and his wrist now bore the burn of the Three Cores. Under his ruling the students were watched closely and any form of resistance or disobedience was punished. Those who had chosen to return wished in silence that they had never done so but the castle's doors were bolted at all times and the secret passages had been destroyed. Hogwarts had become a prison in its own right and although bo difference was made between those of pure blood and those born to Muggleborns, only very few of the last group had returned. Amongst the students a hierarchy had been formed, allowed by teachers up to a certain point, and Narcissa's son Draco led a large group of students that bullied and tortured their fellow classmates as the staff turned their heads away.

She looked on through one of the windows that had a view over the river. Large parts of London were covered in darkness. Her heart beat calmly in her chest as she fingered her wand. She was dressed in a black silk skirts and matching corset and her hair fell in thick, dark brown ringlets down her back. She felt strong and in control and every part of her body radiated her confidence. A lot had changed over the past few days and weeks but now, right now, she felt a strong as she had ever felt before. She turned away from the window, away from the few lights that reflected off the dark water's surface, and walked across the bedroom and stepped out into the long, dimly lit corridor. At the end a large spiral staircase wound down to the floor below and she started her descend, becoming slowly aware of the two figures that stood at the bottom step, looking up at her.

Bellatrix's hair was wet from the rain that had fallen earlier and she sported a deep cut across her cheek. Blood had laced itself with the raindrops as it trickled down the side of her neck. Narcissa's hair was bound back in a simple golden ponytail and she brought her sister's hands up to her lips, kissing her fingers.

"What happened?" Hermione asked sharply as she reached the bottom step. Her hazel eyes swept over Bellatrix's injury. The cut was deep and unless healed properly would leave an unsightly scar.

"Bloody Weasley bitch," Bellatrix hissed and flinched when Narcissa's fingers touched the injury. "I think we have a problem on our hands."

Hermione's eyes darkened. "I told you we should have killed her when we had the chance." She squared her jaw. "What happened?"

"We were leaving the Ministry," Bellatrix said and gritted her teeth as Narcissa placed the tip of her wand against her cheek. Its tip began to glow and a soft red light illuminated Bellatrix's blood stained face. Slowly Narcissa followed the length of the cut and the skin began to heal. "Yaxley suggested we'd check out the Northern Quarter. He reckoned there has been some unrest recently."

Narcissa took a sharp intake of breath. "North has never been able to conform."

"It has the highest number of resistance members," Hermione said slowly. "The only problem is that we can never seem to find them. Unless we round up every witch and wizard in North…"

"I am starting to like that idea more and more," Bellatrix growled as she touched her cheek. The wound had healed and she released her breath. "We barely made it past the check point. The streets were quiet. It was past curfew. Before we knew it, they were everywhere. Ten, maybe fifteen of them."

"They keep moving between Quarters," Narcissa said. "Last week it was West, the week before South. They never stay in the same place very long."

"How do they keep getting past the checkpoints?" Hermione wondered. "The magical restrictions prevent anyone from Apparating or Dissaparating within the Quarters. There must be another way they keep getting in and out."

"Who else was there?" Narcissa asked as she followed Bellatrix and Hermione out of the entrance hall and into the drawing room. Her eyes briefly fixed on the large dining table, littered with rolls of paper, empty goblets and a discarded wand that had been confiscated days ago.

"That Finnegan lad, the Thomas boy and our beloved sister and nice," Bellatrix answered.

Hermione, who had been walking alongside Bellatrix, froze in her tracks. Ever since seeing Andromeda on the banks of the Thames weeks ago, their paths had not crossed again. She had wondered about her fate at times but had never spoken her thoughts out loud. The fact that she had not laid eyes on Andromeda for weeks had settled her raging heart back in her chest. But whenever her name was mentioned, she couldn't stop herself from thinking of her.

"Anyone else we know?" Narcissa asked as she began clearing away some of the scrolls of parchment and flicked her wand. The empty goblets vanished and were replaced by three crystal glasses and a bottle of mead. The glasses filled themselves before slowly rising up from the table and floating towards the three witches.

Bellatrix shook her head. "Their numbers must have grown. I saw faces I have never seen before."

"Where do they keep finding them?" Hermione whispered. She brought the glass to her lips and sipped from the sweet alcoholic liquid. It trickled down her throat, warming her body from the inside out, and her gaze drifted across the room until it came to a rest on the large fireplace. It had been sculptured out of the purest white marble and lilies, ivy and roses and been cut out of the stone as it worked its way up along the wall, almost reaching the ceiling. The flames danced in a mystical display of passion, eating away at the large logs of wood.

"Any chance they could have recruited from across the country?" Narcissa suggested as she leant against the solid wooden table.

Hermione shrugged. "Possibly. If they have found a way to get past the Keepers, there is nothing that stops them from travelling." Her eyes narrowed. "It is nearly impossible for them to have worked this out on their own." She slowly turned back to the two sisters. "Someone is helping them."

Bellatrix's eyes darkened. "You think we have a traitor amongst our ranks?"

"What other reason could there be?" Hermione asked. "The resistance continues to attack our Keepers and Scouts. They have managed to cut through our defences twice in the last month alone, in Manchester and in Leeds. Those cells are working together and I want to know exactly who's helping them and who is supplying them with information!"

Bellatrix put down her glass and slowly closed the distance between her and Hermione. Soft lips caressed the side of the brunette's neck as her arms snaked around Hermione's waist. She felt the swell of Bellatrix's breasts press into her back and her body relaxed against the raven haired witch's frame. Slowly her eyes closed as Bellatrix continued to kiss her neck and she leant in a little further, desperate for the touch to be everlasting.

From across the room Narcissa looked on, her knuckles white as she tightened her grip around her glass. She became aware of her own jealousy and averted her eyes in an attempt to erase the image from her mind. The glass slipped from her fingers and scattered into a thousand pieces across the marbled floor. The sound made Bellatrix and Hermione snap up and the young brunette moved away from her lover towards Narcissa. Soft, hazel eyes looked to meet ocean blue.

"You OK?" she asked as she drew her wand to clean up the mess.

"Fine." Narcissa's answer was sharp and dismissive. She looked back at Hermione. "If you suspect treason then we should call a meeting. The resistance is becoming a significant problem."

"Cissy, our troops are scattered around the country. Even if we Apparate to every site, it is going to take us the best part of two days to get to them all," Bellatrix said slowly. "Our main concern is London. Somehow the resistance seems stronger here. Even if they are recruiting elsewhere, they are bringing them back here."

Narcissa glared at her sister, anger flickering in her eyes. "You should have killed her when you got the chance."

"If I remember correctly, the Weasley brat was in your care shortly before she escaped," Bellatrix reminded her.

"I meant our sister," Narcissa spat and took a step towards Bellatrix. Her hand shot down to the pocket in her robes where she kept her wand. Bellatrix knew her movements like no other and mirrored her sister's actions. "You had your chance at the Manor and you didn't take it."

"How are you talk to me in such a tone?" Bellatrix shrieked and started walking towards Narcissa. "You ungrateful little…."

"Stop!" Hermione said loudly and stepped in between the two other women. She placed her right hand against Narcissa's chest and her left against Bellatrix's, forcing them apart. Her eyes darted from one to the other. Anger was evident in both their eyes. "Fighting isn't going to get us anywhere!"

Bellatrix's nostrils were flaring and her lips had formed a thin line. Slowly she lowered her wand and turned away from Hermione and Narcissa and looked up to the glass ceiling over their heads. It was a clear night, with thousands of stars decorating the ink black skies. "Leave."

"Bella…" Hermione began but Bellatrix didn't turn around.

"I said, LEAVE!"

Hermione's eyes flashed back to Narcissa, who still held her wand. The blonde's eyes had fixed on her sister but slowly she turned away and began walking across the drawing room to the door. She left it open in her wake and Hermione followed her when she realised Bellatrix had no intention of turning back to face her. She found Narcissa half way up the marble staircase and the blonde's head whipped around at the sound of footsteps. Blue eyes found hazel brown.

"What's going on, Cissy?" Hermione asked as she began climbing the stairs and reached the blonde. "That's the second time this week I have had to separate you and Bellatrix. It is unlike you not to control your anger."

"Because of her failure, Andromeda is out there raising a resistance that is defying us!" Narcissa hissed. "Bella could have killed her but she didn't. She made a mistake and because of that, we could lose everything!"

Hermione's eyes narrowed and she watched as Narcissa's face lost its colour when she sensed the brunette invading her mind. She gasped quietly, realising too late that Bellatrix had shared more than a few secrets with Hermione and blue eyes darkened. "You have no right…"

"Don't I?" Hermione whispered as she moved closer to Narcissa, forcing the blonde to press herself against the wall. Their faces were mere inches apart and they could feel each other's breath against their skin. Hermione cocked her head as she studied the older woman's face. "What else have you been keeping from me, Cissy?" The corners of her mouth curled up. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice your jealousy?"

When Narcissa didn't answer, Hermione softly chuckled. "I thought as much. You see, Bellatrix taught me this little trick you do and I don't even need a wand to do it. I know exactly what's in your mind, Cissy. I have seen it all. Those unguarded moments when you think I'm not watching…" She leant in, her lips brushing against Narcissa's. "I know what you're hiding."

"Then you know," Narcissa gasped and her heart hammered against her ribcage.

"Of course I do," Hermione whispered. She pressed her lips against Narcissa's. "You don't get to keep me."

Narcissa's eyes slowly closed under the soft caress of Hermione's lips. "Neither does she."

"We are the same heart," Hermione breathed as she slowly moved away. The air between them was thick with tension and in the pit of her stomach she felt the arousal, the lust and the excitement. Her hazel eyes were filled with desire. "There can never be but one choice, my love." The tip of her tongue darted out and she wet her lips. "No matter how much we would desire it to be so."

She slowly started climbing further up the stairs but Narcissa's fingers closed around her wrist and forced her to look back. The blonde's eyes mirrored the same desire.

"Love cannot be shared."

"Can it not?" Hermione questioned and pulled her wrist free from Narcissa's grip. "We shall see."

Narcissa watched as the brunette reached the top of the stairs and turned around, her hand lingering on the bannister, before disappearing around the corner of the landing and vanishing in the shadows. Her heart settled in her chest and she allowed herself a few moments to collect herself before starting up the stairs herself. She had almost reached the landing when the sound of footsteps downstairs made her look back. Bellatrix stood at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes dark with anger, and Narcissa gazed at her sister until the raven haired woman averted her eyes and disappeared down the corridor. She waited for a little while longer, staring at the spot where her sister had stood, and suddenly became aware of the fact that she didn't feel anything at all.

~()~

London wasn't what it once was. It was a shit hole, a dung hill. Since being Quartered, the city had fallen into a rapid form of decay. Within the Quarters, there was very little to do. People no longer had jobs and those who had once had money in Gringotts, had lost all of it. Every Quarter had a handful of shops that sold the necessary items like bread, milk, fruit and vegetables and clothing. The quality was poor but people scraped by. In the daytime children played in the streets, blissfully unaware of the danger behind the Scouts that watched them from the other side of the pavement, leaning against one of the crumbling walls of an old Muggle house. At night no one dared to set foot outside their doors, afraid that the Scouts would find them and have them arrested. But there were those who defied those odds, who waited until nightfall before emerging from their shabby homes and other hiding places, and filled the streets without a hint of fear.

Andromeda looked over her shoulder as she darted into one of the narrow alleyways that separated the blocks of houses. It was dark and most of the streetlights no longer worked but the few that were cast a yellow glow across the wet streets. She waited a few more seconds, until the echo of boots on pavement had faded in the distance, before pushing herself away from the wall she had pressed herself against. The back of her throat was dry and her eyes darted from left to right as she shot out of the alley towards an old building at the end of the row.

Ian Miller & Sons Butchers had gone out of business long before the Three Cores descended upon London and the front of the shop had been boarded up. A door to the side provided entrance and Andromeda placed the tip of her wand against the old fashioned doorknob and whispered, "Alohomora."

The clock sprung open and with a horrible creaking noise the door swung inwards, revealing only a dark entrance hall. She closed the door behind her, muttered another spell under her breath and double checked whether the lock had slid back in place. Reassured that it was indeed locked, she turned and raised her wand. "Lumos." The silver glow from the tip of her wand lit up the hallway she stood in and she turned to her left. Where there had once been a door, a large and ornate looking portrait now sat. The wizard, Archibald Bartholomew Price the Fourth, looked up, disturbed from his slumber.

"That time again?" he growled and Andromeda suppressed a grin. "Password?"

"Harry," Andromeda answered and the old wizard made a casual hand gesture before the frame swung aside and revealed the doorway behind it. She stepped inside and waited for the painting to slide back in place.

"Andy!"

She looked up at the mention of her name and found Ginny sitting on one of the floral patterned sofas. She smiled. "You know, Ginny, of all the paintings to steal from Hogwarts, did it have to be him?"

"Hey, he was the only one who promised me he wasn't going to go back and visit his other portraits back at Hogwarts!" Ginny grinned. "Did he complain again?"

"I don't think he really likes us waking him up in the middle of the night," Andromeda answered and enveloped the young redhead in her arms. When she let her go her eyes darted around the room. None of the other seats were taken but she spotted some of the empty Butterbeer bottles on the floor. "Where is everyone?"

"In the back," Ginny pointed over her shoulder.

She and Andromeda crossed the small and cramped living room into what had once been a small dining area. Old fashioned stripy light blue wallpaper decorated the walls and a small light bulb dangled from the ceiling, illuminating a round wooden table with several chairs. Most of them were taken and a few other people sat on the ground, their backs resting against the wall. Andromeda's eyes instinctively searched for bright pink hair and she smiled when she found her daughter leaning across the table whilst showing something to Seamus and Dean.

"I thought we weren't going to meet again this week after what happened earlier tonight," Andromeda said as she joined her daughter and kissed her hair. "Bellatrix and Yaxley, all in one night…"

"That's exactly why we're back here," Ginny said. "They weren't supposed to be here tonight. Yaxley is Keeper of North but he only makes his Keeper rounds three times a week; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Any other day he lets his Scouts handle it. So why was here on a Monday?"

Andromeda frowned. "You think it was Bellatrix's idea?"

"Everyone knows that the Keepers can't seem to get the resistance to die down," Ginny said and looked around the room. "Last week Bellatrix and Narcissa themselves searched West after we attacked their Scouts. They must have some idea about what's going on." She paused. "We are stronger than they think but we have to be careful. If they realise what's going on, I have no doubt that they will simply turn around and destroy every Quarter in every city to drive us out into the open."

Andromeda straightened her spine and brushed a strand of damp hair out of her eyes. "How are we doing on trying to find Ollivander?"

Tonks sighed. "Molly spoke to Muriel only last week. Since being Quartered it's practically impossible to get hold of anyone outside the city. All the fireplaces are guarded and you can't Apparate in or out of the city anymore."

Andromeda shook her head. Arthur and Molly had arrived in London mere days before the city had been divided into North, East, South and West. They now lived in hiding, together with the rest of the family, somewhere in East. Andromeda didn't know exactly where. "We should've never suggested they came to the city. They were better off in the country, away from this. They have suffered enough without having to live in this hellhole."

Tonks nodded slowly. "Muriel said that Ollivander stayed for just a couple of nights and when she woke up one morning, he was gone. His bed had not been slept in so he had to have disappeared the night before. No one has seen him since."

"He could be anywhere," Andromeda sighed and looked up when Seamus stood up from his seat on the floor.

He asked the question that had been on all of their minds since Andromeda suggested trying to find the wand maker weeks ago. "Have you considered the possibility that he's dead?"

"I have," she sighed and turned away from the resistance members. The small window in this back room looked out into another narrow alley way. She stared at the raindrops sliding down the grime covered glass. "If he is, there is one more thing we can do. Does anyone know what happened to Gregorovitch?"

"The other wand maker?" Dean asked and Andromeda nodded. "Last I heard, he was living somewhere abroad." He sighed and rubbed his eyes. The lack of sleep was showing across his face. "Suddenly I wish I had paid more attention in my History of Magic lessons."

"Mum, if we can't even find Ollivander in this country, how do you expect us to find Gregorovitch anywhere else in Europe?" Tonks asked softly. She put a hand on her mother's shoulder. "I know what you're thinking but surely you must know that it's impossible?"

"Nothing is ever impossible, Nymphadora," Andromeda sighed and turned away from the window. "If we want to win this war, we are going to need one of the wand makers." She heaved a sigh and looked around the room. "The minute we find either one of them, Hermione and the others will know what we're trying to do. Things will only get worse." The mention of Hermione brought a sadness to her heart and she swallowed hard. "We have no choice. Just by fighting alone we are never going to destroy them. They are too strong."

Tonks nodded. "Things have to get worse before they get better, right?"

Andromeda met her daughter's eyes and the hint of optimism brought a smile to her face. "Yes, darling. For things to get better, they have to get worse. A lot worse."

That was chapter 1. Let me know what you think!